Proc-N-Roll : Your guide to practical procurement!

Welcome back to Proc n Roll! In this week's episode, Conrad reconnects with long-time colleague and procurement powerhouse Omid Ghamami to discuss a fundamental shift in how we source. Are you spending 70% to 90% of your day firefighting supplier issues? Omid argues that this happens because procurement teams are stuck in a 1970s mindset, focusing entirely on buying "goods and services" instead of contracting for business outcomes.Omid shares incredible stories—from the LED traffic light disaster to the $30 million payroll blunder—that illustrate exactly why focusing on activities instead of results costs organizations millions. Tune in to learn why your legal team isn't actually protecting you commercially, why "ignorance" is your greatest procurement weapon, and how to stop asking for permission so you can crown yourself as a true business leader.Timestamps:(00:55) – Welcome & Reconnecting 30 Years Later04:40 – The Accidental Career: Nobody Plans for Procurement(08:16) – Stop Parasitic Negotiations: The Hidden 18% Cost(12:39) – Why We Buy The Wrong Things: Custom vs. Standard(15:33) – The Brutal Truth: Why Stakeholders Don't Engage Us Early(21:23) – The Problem with "Goods and Services" Contracts(25:59) – Embrace Ignorance: Your Greatest Procurement Tool(32:57) – The Know, Like, and Trust Triangle(42:27) – The San Francisco $30M Payroll Blunder(46:19) – Response Time vs. Resolution Time (The Baseball Game Story)(51:05) – The Wisconsin LED Traffic Light Disaster(55:13) – Why Legal Isn't Protecting You Commercially(01:01:46) – Leadership Lesson: Crown YourselfAbout Proc n RollProc n Roll is your guide to practical procurement. Join Conrad, Zach, and Natasha as we tackle real-world challenges for procurement leaders. From building operating models to leveraging data and AI strategy, we bring you no-nonsense insights to help you transform your organization! Be sure to hit that like button, comment your thoughts, and subscribe so you never miss an episode.

If procurement only speaks the language of cost savings, it will never be astrategic partner. In this Proc N Roll: Track, former CPO Natasha Gurevich argues that real value looks different to every stakeholder — risk reduction for legal, speed to market for marketing, capacity assurance for supply chain — and that procurement leaders need to be brave enough to tell their teams, "Forget the savings number for 12 months. Just do the right thing for the business."Conrad Smith shares how he stopped reporting savings to his CFO for nearly two years at Adobe, and the trio unpacks the three pillars required to shift from savings to value: talent, stakeholder relationships, and supplier relationships.This Track is pulled from https://open.spotify.com/episode/7CHXHUFK1sMqA6Cct1b2iz?si=eFBJEG3sQGGKgSLzRqo_AgAbout Proc N Roll:Your guide to practical procurement, where we make procurement rock and roll.Hosted by Conrad Smith (Founder of Graphite Connect, former CPO at Adobe, and Intel), Natasha Gurevich (former CPO at Nike, Salesforce, McKesson, and IBM), and Zachary Bachir. Three procurement veterans with almost 70 years of combined practical experience, unpacking the trends, skills, and real-world lessons that shape the profession.

Procurement teams love to talk about risk. Most of them never actually manage it.In this Proc N Roll: Track, Conrad Smith lays out the biggest failure he sees across dozens of procurement orgs every month — stopping at "awareness" and never moving to mitigation — and introduces the four-step framework that separates real programs from glorified questionnaires: Define. Measure. Manage. Monitor. Natasha Gurevich reinforces the enterprise mindset with her "20 burning platforms" principle: you can't fix everything, so pick the riskiest risks and actually work them.This Track is pulled from https://open.spotify.com/episode/0JvE9vi3x5eYWldEvhQNWl?si=uUFbJcaTSKKuitN7utuSCAAbout Proc N Roll:Your guide to practical procurement, where we make procurement rock and roll.Hosted by Conrad Smith (Founder of Graphite Connect, former CPO at Adobe, and Intel), Natasha Gurevich (former CPO at Nike, Salesforce, McKesson, and IBM), and Zachary Bachir. Three procurement veterans with almost 70 years of combined practical experience, unpacking the trends, skills, and real-world lessons that shape the profession.

Want honest feedback from your team? Stop asking people to judge you.In this Proc N Roll: Track, pro-CPO Natasha Gurevich shares the single question that transformed how she receives feedback from direct reports, peers, and skip-levels: "How have you experienced me?" Conrad Smith and Zachary Bachir unpack why human nature resists feedback — the "mammalian brain" at work — and how leaders can build a culture where critical input becomes routine, not rare.This Track is pulled from https://open.spotify.com/episode/1r4JLHcYnMAk6Fps0Aw5Sc?si=JKC2fPO5QaGoQY5sRcCg-wAbout Proc N Roll:Your guide to practical procurement, where we make procurement rock and roll.Hosted by Conrad Smith (Founder of Graphite Connect, former CPO at Adobe, and Intel), Natasha Gurevich (former CPO at Nike, Salesforce, McKesson, and IBM), and Zachary Bachir. Three procurement veterans with almost 70 years of combined practical experience, unpacking the trends, skills, and real-world lessons that shape the profession.

In this week’s Proc N Roll, Conrad sits down with Stephany Lapierre, the visionary founder of Tealbook. They dive into the reality of modern procurement tech: why companies spend millions on "Ferraris" (expensive systems) only to fill the gas tanks with sugar and mud (bad data).Stephany shares her journey from founding Matchbook to fixing the foundational data issues that plague modern source-to-pay processes. If you want to know why portal fatigue is holding your suppliers back, why LLMs won't magically clean your data, and how to pare down a massive vision into digestible steps to get stakeholder buy-in, this episode is a must-listen!Timestamps:(00:53) – Welcome & The Ferrari Analogy(02:21) – Stephany's Journey: From Matchbook to Procurement Data(07:15) – The "Scott" Problem: Data Gatekeepers of the 90s vs. Now(13:42) – The Myth of the "Source of Truth"(15:55) – The Million-Dollar Data Cleanup Nightmare(26:41) – Entity Resolution: Which Stephanie are we actually paying?(28:34) – Will AI Fix Bad Data? (Spoiler: No)(31:17) – Lightning Round: Improving Supplier Onboarding(34:11) – Leadership Lessons: Paring Down the Big VisionAbout Proc & Roll Proc n Roll is your go-to podcast for practical, no-nonsense insights into the world of procurement. Hosted by Conrad Smith, Zachary Bachir, and Natasha Gurevich. Whether you are looking to build a better operating model, adopt the latest in AI and tech, or transform your career path, we bring you the strategies and stories that matter.

Welcome to another episode of Proc n Roll! Today, Conrad sits down with Peter Teresi, founder and CEO of Certificial, to explore what it really takes to build the mindset of an innovator. Peter shares his journey from the early days of MSNBC to revolutionizing data standards in the insurance industry.The two founders also dive deep into the power of intrapreneurship. Peter highlights how a side project, building an API solution to operationalize standard adoption at ACORD, grew into the wildly successful ACORD Solutions Group. Leading that flourishing subsidiary as CEO gave Peter the exact confidence he needed to finally take the plunge and launch his own startup, Certificial.If you want to learn the difference between simple efficiency and true transformation, how to turn an internal side project into a global success, and why you need to master the "30-Hour Rule" to carve out time for innovation, this episode has you covered.Timestamps:(00:53) – Episode Intro & Welcome(02:30) – Peter's early tech roots at Microsoft & the launch of MSNBC(07:23) – Moving past paper forms: What ACORD really does with data standards(11:18) – How to build an "Innovation Mindset" and identify real problems(17:25) – Conrad's missed opportunities (and the blank space that led to Graphite)(20:57) – The origin of Certificial: From broken resumes to transforming COIs(24:56) – Efficiency vs. Transformation: Why the "Easy Pass" model isn't enough(38:02) – The reality of executing an idea and why investors bet on the person(42:33) – The 30-Hour Rule: Why you must make time to innovate in your day job(44:59) – Peter’s time-machine leadership advice and the importance of hiring the right teamAbout Proc n RollProc n Roll is your go-to podcast for practical, no-nonsense insights into the world of procurement. Hosted by Conrad Smith, Zachary Bachir, and Natasha Gurevich. Whether you are looking to build a better operating model, adopt the latest in AI and tech, or transform your career path, we bring you the strategies and stories that matter. Be sure to hit that like button, comment your thoughts, and subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Welcome to a milestone Episode 50 of Proc & Roll! Conrad, Natasha, and Zachary follow up on our previous high-level discussion to give you a practical, step-by-step guide to building your procurement operating model.https://open.spotify.com/episode/4lpDVChcoaCLtbsVWxYJsE?si=ijC9umgZSMuOFuawyzRtEwWe kick things off with our real-world AI agent experiments—including Conrad’s AI Chief of Staff, "James"—and a heartwarming story of servant leadership from an Atlanta TSA worker. Then, we strip away the theory: how do you actually build a procurement framework? Learn why you must map the enterprise "skeleton" before drawing an org chart, how to structure your spend verticals vs. process horizontals, and why aligning with core business goals is your only path to success.Episode Timestamps:(01:00) - Intro, haircuts, and celebrating Episode 50!(03:37) - AI Top of Mind: Conrad's AI agent updates the corporate org chart.(08:08) - Overcoming AI intimidation: Natasha’s plan to automate admin tasks.(13:40) - The Atlanta TSA Hero: A powerful lesson in servant leadership.(17:20) - Deep Dive: Practical steps for building your procurement operating model.(21:29) - Step One: Understanding the enterprise structure (the "skeleton").(23:43) - Aligning your operating outcomes with core business goals.(26:59) - Exploring central, local, and center-led service delivery models.(36:00) - Natasha’s framework: Spend verticals vs. Process horizontals.(41:35) - How AI agents will impact future FTE headcount and strategic roles.(47:12) - Operating Model vs. Org Chart: Why the skeleton must come first.About Proc & Roll:Welcome to Proc & Roll, a practical guide that focuses on everything procurement. We dive deep into the operating models, technologies, and strategies that are reshaping the sourcing and supply chain industries. Subscribe for tactical advice, unfiltered opinions, and interviews with the brightest minds in procurement.

In this Jam Session, Natasha Gurevich and Zachary Bachir are joined by Jason Busch, founder of Spend Matters, host of the Algo Ego podcast, and a highly provocative thinker in the procurement and supply chain space.Jason explores several critical topics reshaping the industry. We dive into the evolution of AI across different operational tiers, examine the shifting shelf-life and relevance of legacy SaaS platforms, and discuss what rapid technological advancements mean for the future of traditional knowledge work and career planning for the next generation.Be sure to check out Jason Busch's podcast, Algo Ego, for even deeper dives into the intersection of artificial intelligence, economics, and technology!About Proc & Roll:Welcome to Proc & Roll, a practical guide where we focus on everything about procurement. We dive deep into the operating models, technologies, and strategies that are reshaping the sourcing and supply chain industries. Subscribe for tactical advice, unfiltered opinions, and interviews with the brightest minds in procurement.

Are you an architect of your procurement future, or are you waiting to be replaced by it? In this week's episode of Proc & Roll, Conrad and Zachary are joined by Tomas Wiemer (former Head of Procurement at Juniper Networks) to break down exactly how AI and agentic automation are completely rewriting the procurement operating model.From the death of the 100-page process map to building a Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) model in just one hour instead of three weeks, this episode explores how AI is forcing a massive shift from process to outcomes. We also dive into why middle managers must become "player-coaches" to survive, and a radical new concept called "Supplier Insurance" that could finally kill the standard NDA. If you want to future-proof your sourcing org chart, this is the episode you need.Timestamps: 00:48 - Intro & The Agentic Future of Procurement03:06 - Welcoming Tomas Wiemer to Proc & Roll04:35 - What exactly is a Procurement Operating Model? (The 6 Layers)06:19 - Tomas’s background and why value is no longer just "cost savings."12:33 - The shift away from self-service: Giving everyone an "AI Expert" on their shoulder19:35 - Why your 100-page process documentation is officially dead21:53 - Evolving Skills: From writing RFPs to reviewing AI-generated RFPs28:17 - The Middle Management Warning: Become a "Player-Coach" or risk your job30:37 - Why Conrad just added 3 AI Agents to his official org chart36:46 - Insane Productivity: Slashing TCO analysis from weeks to 1 hour41:37 - RIP the NDA? The future of Community Standards and "Supplier Insurance."54:25 - Final Advice: The Abundance Mindset and becoming the architect of your blueprint.About Proc & Roll:Welcome to Proc & Roll, your guide to practical procurement! Hosted by Conrad Smith, Zachary Bachir, and Natasha Gurevich, this podcast is dedicated to exploring the strategies, technologies, and operating models shaping the future of sourcing and supply chain. We skip the fluff and give you the actionable blueprints you need to elevate your procurement function.

In this episode of Proc & Roll, hosts Conrad Smith and Zach Bachir are joined by Kasey Smith for a deep dive into OpenClaw, a groundbreaking agentic AI tool that is set to disrupt the procurement technology stack.The team moves beyond the hype to show how accessible this technology is, even for those without a technical background. Kasey shares his journey of setting up an OpenClaw agent on a simple Mac Mini using "vibe coding" and natural language rather than traditional programming.In this episode, you’ll learn:The Power of "Gavin": Watch a live demonstration of a custom procurement agent named Gavin who automatically reviews contracts, identifies compliance violations, and drafts remediation emails to vendors.The End of Legacy Tech? Why traditional Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) and orchestration tools may struggle to provide ROI in a world where users can build their own automated workflows in an afternoon.Context Engineering: How to use a "Boss Agent" strategy to manage specialized sub-agents, improving accuracy while reducing token costs and latency.Building with Semantic Text: Why the future of procurement operations is being built through simple, natural language prompts and flowcharts rather than rigid code.Don't wait for your IT department to hand you a solution. The team urges every procurement professional to start experimenting with these agents in a personal "sandbox" to prepare for the inevitable enterprise shift

Do you ever feel like you are operating on an island inside your own company? You aren't alone. In this episode of Proc & Roll, Conrad Smith sits down with Shunit Kainy to discuss the transformative power of professional networking and knowledge sharing.Shunit, who playfully describes herself as the "black sheep" of her art-focused family for going into high-tech sourcing, shares her journey of building a thriving 260-member procurement community in Israel from the ground up. They discuss everything from the "native gig" economy of peer-to-peer knowledge sharing to the reality that we are already negotiating with AI bots.Whether you are a natural introvert who wants to hide in your hotel room at networking events or a seasoned leader looking to balance your "Task vs. Relationship" focus, this episode is packed with practical advice to help you step up and lead the enterprise.About Proc & Roll:Proc & Roll is your guide to practical procurement. Hosted by industry veterans Conrad Smith, Natasha Gurevich, and Zachary Bachir, the podcast brings together global minds to tackle the reality of modern supply chains, technology, and leadership. From navigating the rapid disruption of AI agents to mastering the soft skills of stakeholder management and community building, Proc & Roll delivers the insights you need to elevate your career and drive true enterprise value.

In this episode of Proc & Roll, hosts Conrad Smith, Natasha Gurevich, and Zachary Bachir dive into Phase Two of Stakeholder Management while confronting the breaking disruption of AI agents.The episode kicks off with a look at shifting global tariffs and the sudden rise of "Clawdbot", an AI agent capable of operating independently across your computer and files. The team debates a startling question: Is traditional procurement orchestration dead? As AI enables every business unit to have a virtual CPO (like the hypothetical "Tasha" bot) , procurement must shift away from being process gatekeepers to becoming strategic conductors of the enterprise.The second half of the episode is a rapid-fire Q&A on the hard truths of Stakeholder Management, covering everything from rogue spend to hostile business partners.Key Topics Covered:The AI Agent Revolution: How independent AI agents might run the entire end-to-end sourcing process in the near future.Savings vs. Speed: Knowing when to stop a stakeholder's process to protect the enterprise, and when to get out of the way.Earning Your Seat: Why a seat at the executive table must be earned through strategic value, not mandated by policy.Rethinking Maverick Spend: Why eliminating 100% of shadow procurement might make you more enemies than friends, and how to enable speed-to-market within compliant boundaries.Enterprise KPIs: Shifting from functional procurement goals (like cost savings) to OKRs tied directly to enterprise revenue and operating margins.The 7% Autopilot Rule: How technology will run 93% of procurement processes, leaving human professionals to "fly the plane" for the critical 3-7% of strategic decisions.Navigating "Red" Stakeholders: Practical strategies for dealing with hostile relationships, from falling back on governance to knowing when it's time to simply step away.About Proc & Roll:Proc & Roll is your guide to practical procurement. Hosted by industry veterans Conrad Smith, Natasha Gurevich, and Zachary Bachir, the podcast brings together global minds to tackle the reality of modern supply chains, technology, and leadership. From navigating the rapid disruption of AI agents to mastering the soft skills of stakeholder management, Proc & Roll delivers the insights you need to elevate your career and drive true enterprise value.

"I had to learn the hard way that people's feelings really matter." That was Zachary Bachir’s candid admission about his journey from a logical "robot" to an EQ expert. It serves as the foundation for today’s deep dive into Brain Science and the "Fluff" that actually drives multi-million dollar business results. In this week's Proc & Roll, hosts Conrad Smith, Natasha Gurevich, and Zachary Bachir strip away the spreadsheets to explore the single most important engine in procurement: Stakeholder Management. We debate why being a "gatekeeper" is a death trap for your influence, how to overcome imposter syndrome when dealing with the C-Suite, and why a relationship with zero friction—a "Love Fest"—might actually mean you’re failing at your job.In this episode, we cover:The 90-Day Listening Tour: The one diagnostic question Natasha uses to uncover organizational pain without getting defensive. The "Fluff" Myth: Why brilliant tech and supply chain architects fail the moment they ignore the human side of the business.The Ego Audit: A masterclass in taking "brutal" feedback and turning a critic into a coach.The "Hobby Buyer" Pivot: How to address shadow procurement by carrying the "torch of empowerment" across the whole enterprise.About Proc & RollProc & Roll is your guide to practical procurement, hosted by industry heavyweights Zachary Bachir, Conrad Smith (CEO, Graphite), and Natasha Gurevich (CEO, Candor Procurement). From brain science to visual mapping, we deliver actionable insights to help you win hearts, minds, and budgets.

That was the response Natasha Gurevich’s CPO gave to a stakeholder who said, "Don't worry, we got it." It is the ultimate definition of fiduciary duty, and the perfect example of the Enterprise Mindset we discuss in today’s episode.In this week's Proc & Roll, hosts Conrad Smith, Natasha Gurevich, and Zachary Bachir revisit a key prediction for 2026: The shift from "functional" procurement to "enterprise" leadership.We debate whether you should hire "hobby buyers" via rotation programs or stick to dedicated pros, why staying in procurement too long can turn you into a "compliance bot", and how to stop stakeholders from bypassing you by delivering value before the contract is written.Plus, we explore the "Power of And"—why you don't have to choose between savings and value and issue a 1-Week AI Challenge to wake up your team's strategic brain.In this episode, we cover:The Enterprise Shift: Why "keeping score" isn't enough—you have to get in the game.The Compliance Bot Trap: Why Zach argues you need to rotate out of procurement to truly understand the business.The "End Up" Bar: Natasha’s hilarious analogy for how some procurement teams are staffed with people who just "end up" there.The 1-Week AI Challenge: A practical exercise to force your team to think like a C-Suite executive.The Elephant Mindset: How to break the mental chains that keep you focused on tactical tasks.About Proc & RollProc & Roll is your guide to practical procurement, hosted by industry heavyweights Zachary Bachir, Conrad Smith (CEO, Graphite), and Natasha Gurevich (CEO, Candor Procurement). From fighting inflation to navigating AI, we deliver actionable insights to help you turn procurement into a strategic powerhouse.

Why Your SRM Program is Useless Theater?Why has Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) progressed so little in the last 20 years? And what can procurement leaders learn from the messy "divorce" between Amazon and UPS?In this episode of Proc & Roll, hosts Conrad Smith, Natasha Gurevich, and Zachary Bachir tackle the stagnation of supplier management. They debate why most QBRs are just "useless theater," why indirect procurement struggles to build real partnerships compared to direct procurement, and how to stop trying to manage 20,000 suppliers and start focusing on the few that matter.Plus, we break down the strategic shift in the Amazon vs. UPS partnership, and why knowing when to end a relationship is just as important as starting one.In this episode, we cover:Amazon & UPS Split: Why Amazon is UPS’s largest customer but least profitable, and what it teaches us about ending partnerships.The "Useless Theater" of SRM: Why running QBRs without business buy-in is a waste of time.Direct vs. Indirect: Why manufacturing teams are often decades ahead of indirect procurement in managing relationships.The "Data God" Strategy: Natasha reveals why you don't need to be a data expert to lead SRM; you just need a "Data God" on your team.Practical Advice: Stop overcomplicating segmentation. Start with one supplier, one stakeholder, and one spreadsheet.

Why do most layoffs fail? Why is the obsession with "world-class" talent actually hurting your team? And is the advice to "learn to code" already obsolete?In this Jam Session, hosts Natasha Gurevich and Zachary Bachir sit down with Lucien Alziari, former CHRO of Prudential, Maersk, and Avon.Lucien drops masterclass insights on leadership discipline, the "He-Man" toxicity in tech management, and why he believes layoffs are like open-heart surgery: a life-saving measure that fails if you go right back to your bad habits.In this episode, we cover:Stop Chasing "World-Class" Talent: Why you only need elite talent in the specific roles that make you win—and why "good" is enough everywhere else.Lessons from PepsiCo: What a truly strategic procurement team looks like (hint: they understood the value of a can from the mine to the shelf).The Layoff "Lifestyle": Why restructuring fails when companies "take the people out but don't take the work out".The Skills Trap: Why Lucien believes human skills like curiosity and reliability will outlast technical skills like coding in the AI era.The Fear Factor: Why stakeholders "live in fear" of procurement and how to fix your reputation.

Everyone wants to talk about AI, but no one wants to talk about the mess in their data lake. In this episode of Proc & Roll, hosts Conrad Smith, Zachary Bachir, and Natasha Gurevich debate the unsexy reality of data readiness.Is your organization actually ready for predictive analytics, or are you just "tidying up your bedroom" before it gets messy again?The team dives deep into why one-off data cleanup projects are a waste of budget, why hiring a PhD Data Scientist might be a massive mistake for your current maturity level, and why the most successful leaders "stay in love with the data" even as they rise through the ranks.In this episode, we cover:The "Bedroom Tidying" Trap: Why cleaning up data without fixing the operating model is a futile exercise.Single Version of Truth: How to stop the "I disagree with your numbers" argument that kills every procurement strategy.The Talent Debate: Do you need a Data Scientist or a Process Analyst? (The answer might surprise you) ."No New Data": A radical strategy to stop data sludge before it enters your system. Leadership Advice: Conrad’s plea for leaders to remain connected to the raw information that runs the business.About Proc & RollProc & Roll is your guide to practical procurement, hosted by industry heavyweights Zachary Bachir, Conrad Smith (CEO, Graphite), and Natasha Gurevich (CEO, Candor Procurement). From fighting inflation to navigating AI, we deliver actionable insights and "Jam Sessions" with world-class leaders to help you turn procurement into a strategic powerhouse.

Why do business stakeholders roll their eyes when you talk about "cost savings"? And why does the next generation of talent treat their career path like a video game?In this episode, hosts Zachary Bachir and Natasha Gurevich sit down with Ted Baumuller, former Global Leader of Source-to-Pay at Meta (and formerly Cisco & Abbott), for a masterclass on stakeholder alignment and modern leadership.Ted shares his unconventional journey from hating supply chain ("too many parts!") to leading procurement at one of the world's biggest tech companies. He reveals why "leading with savings" is a trap and how to actually get a seat at the table by speaking the language of Marketing, Engineering, and IT.In this episode, we cover:Stop Leading with Savings: Why stakeholders see you as a "back office cost center" when you talk price—and what to say instead to get their attention.The Credibility Equation: Ted's rule for building trust: "You are only as good as your last failure".The Gamification of Career: How to manage Gen Z talent who expect to "level up" their career like a video game (and why that's not necessarily a bad thing). AI & The "Crap Work": Why you should happily hand over transactional work to AI so you can focus on relationships. Career Zig-Zags: Why the best procurement leaders often don't start in procurement—and why cross-functional experience is your superpower.Whether you are a procurement leader trying to get Engineering to listen to you, or a young professional mapping out your career, this episode is packed with practical wisdom from a leader who has seen it all.About Proc & RollProc & Roll is your guide to practical procurement, hosted by industry heavyweights Zachary Bachir, Conrad Smith (CEO, Graphite), and Natasha Gurevich (CEO, Candor Procurement). From fighting inflation to navigating AI, we deliver actionable insights and "Jam Sessions" with world-class leaders to help you turn procurement into a strategic powerhouse.

Will Procurement Teams Shrink in 2026?It is time for our retrospective! In this episode of Proc & Roll, hosts Conrad Smith, Natasha Gurevich, and Zachary Bachir look back at their 2025 forecasts and lay out their bold predictions for the year ahead.We even let an AI agent grade our 2025 scorecards. Did we hit the mark on the "AI Hype Cycle" crashing into the "Data Wall"?In this episode, we cover:🔮 The 2025 Scorecard:The Data Wall: AI confirms that the hype cycle crashed in Q2 2025 as companies paused projects to fix master data.The Amazon Effect: Intake management became the hottest category to solve user experience.Savings vs. Value: Why the CFO still demanded hard dollar savings despite the push for "value.🚀 Top Predictions for 2026:The Great Tech Stack Reshuffle: Natasha predicts CPOs will cancel niche subscriptions to self-fund new tools—no incremental budget expected.Shrinking Teams: A controversial take that procurement teams will get smaller as manual tasks vanish, shifting focus to high-level strategy.Tangible AI Value: Moving past the "shiny toy" phase to asking where AI agents are actually executing work.The Gig Expert: The rise of the "fractional" procurement expert to solve the talent crisis.Plus, Conrad shares an AI-generated "Top 10" list for 2026, including the death of the PowerPoint QBR and the thawing of US-China relations.

In this Jam Session, host Conrad Smith sits down with Jay Sklar from Hub International for a masterclass in high-velocity procurement.With Hub International acquiring an average of five companies every single month, Jay has developed a battle-tested playbook for rapid integration. He shares how he manages a massive portfolio of 700+ offices while leveraging his company's explosive growth to secure better deals with suppliers.In this episode, we cover:🏢 Procurement Meets Real Estate: How Jay manages a dual role and drives "operating expense" savings by optimizing office density and design.🚀 The M&A Engine: How to use your company's growth story to tell suppliers to "hitch their wagon" to you for better pricing.🛑 The Nuclear Option: Jay’s strategy for fighting unjustified 2x software price hikes (and why you have to be willing to "rip and replace").🤖 AI Pragmatism: Why we need less theory and more "show and tell" in the procurement AI sandbox.💡 Best Advice: Why "being a nice person" is the secret weapon of successful M&A integration.Whether you are dealing with software inflation or managing a complex real estate portfolio, this episode is packed with practical tips you can use today.

Happy 1st Birthday to Proc & Roll! 🎂🎸Can you believe it has been a whole year? In this special anniversary episode, hosts Conrad Smith, Natasha Gurevich, and Zach Bachir put aside the interview scripts to reminisce on the journey from episode 1 to 35+.What started as a random lunch in London turned into a community of "operators in the trenches," and we wouldn't be here without you!In this episode, we cover:The Origin Story: How a cold email and a lunch sparked a deep friendship and a podcast.The AI Rewind: Conrad uses Google’s NotebookLM live on the show to analyze our entire year of transcripts, revealing our biggest themes (from Ethics to "Savings vs. Value").Best Guest Moments: We look back at game-changing conversations with Dr. Elouise Epstein, Mark Raffan, Alyssa Harvey Dawson, Ana Erickson, Ash Hall, MVK (Michael Van Keulen), Josh Earley, Arnaud de Brux, and David Johnson, plus we preview upcoming episodes with Ted Baumuller and Jay Sklar.2026 Teasers: A sneak peek at upcoming episodes featuring CHROs discussing layoffs and a deep dive into the CFO relationship.Whether you are a CPO or a new category manager, thank you for rocking with us this year. Here’s to many more! 🥂

"We jumped off a cliff and built the plane on the way down." ✈️That is how Arnaud, Head of Indirect Procurement at BIC, describes the massive challenge of building a non-GMO supply chain from scratch in just 18 months.In this Jam Session, Arnaud joins Conrad to explore how an industrial engineering mindset can transform procurement from a transactional function into a strategic engine for growth. They discuss how to look beyond the price tag to see the total cost of ownership—whether you are buying machinery for a factory or software for HR.In this episode, you’ll learn:The Danone Case Study: The incredible story of how Arnaud helped build a non-GMO milk supply chain—changing everything from the cow feed to the factory production lines—in under two years to drive competitive advantage.Engineering the Indirects: How to apply "factory floor" logic (like continuous improvement and maintenance planning) to complex indirect categories like Marketing and IT.Escaping the "Busy Work": Why automating tail spend and tactical admin is the only way to free up your team for true Supplier Relationship Management (SRM).The 2-to-1 Rule: Arnaud’s golden rule for career growth: "We have two ears and one mouth, so we should listen twice as much as we speak.Taking Risks: Why you should always volunteer for the projects that scare you—because "if your goals don't scare you, they aren't big enough".If you want to learn how to break down silos and engineer value, this jam session is for you.

"Don't let IT select the technology." 🛑That is just one of the hard-hitting pieces of advice from Michael Van Keulen (MVK), Chief Customer Officer at Green Cabbage and former CPO at Coupa, Lululemon, and VF Corporation.In this jam session, MVK joins the Proc & Roll team to break down the explosion of the procurement tech market. With thousands of solutions now available, how do you choose the right stack? MVK argues that the days of the 500-question RFP are over and that tech selection must be treated as a business project, not a procurement one.In this episode, you’ll learn:The "Platform vs. Point Solution" Verdict: Why MVK believes you need a core "single source of truth" augmented by best-of-breed apps—and why trying to stitch together 10 different solutions is crazy.How NOT to Buy Tech: Why running a massive RFP is a mistake, and why you should focus on defining the business problem (like store visibility) rather than feature lists.The IT Trap: Why IT should be a partner, but never the decision-maker for your technology roadmap.AI Predictions: Why MVK and the team believe AI will eventually automate 50-80% of tactical procurement work, freeing us to finally focus on strategy.Implementation Secrets: The three top "Do's" for a successful rollout: Involve stakeholders early, prioritize people/process over tech, and treat it as a cross-functional business project.If you are navigating a digital transformation or struggling to get budget for new tools, this episode is your playbook.About Proc & RollProc & Roll is your guide to practical procurement, where we make procurement rock and roll. Hosted by industry veterans Natasha Gurevich, Conrad Smith, and Zachary Bachir, we tackle the biggest topics and trends to help you level up your procurement game.

Can you build a fully functional AI procurement agent in just 50 hours?In this special "Show and Tell" episode, host Zachary Bachir rolls up his sleeves to demonstrate an AI intake agent he built from scratch using N8n, a low-code automation platform.Join Conrad, Natasha, and Zach for a hands-on look at the future of agentic workflows. Zach creates a live purchase requisition via email, and the agent parses the intent, checks it against procurement policy using RAG (Retrieval Augmented Generation), and drafts a perfect response, all without human intervention.You’ll learn:✔️ How to Build Your Own Agent: A live demo of an orchestration agent that manages sub-agents (like a "Commercial Analyst" and "Compliance Analyst") to handle stakeholder requests.✔️ Demystifying RAG: Zach explains how to use Retrieval Augmented Generation to turn unstructured data—like PDF contracts and policy documents—into a database your AI can actually read and use.✔️ The "Buy vs. Build" Debate: Natasha challenges the risks of "Shadow AI." Should every procurement pro be building their own tools, or does this create chaos?.✔️ The 50-Hour Investment: Why spending just one week learning these tools can make you a "dangerous" negotiator when buying tech from suppliers.✔️ The Future of the Center of Excellence: Why procurement functions need to invest in internal technical teams to design these flows, even if the average buyer doesn't write code.If you’ve been waiting for a practical, under-the-hood look at how AI agents actually work, do not miss this episode.

"Just because you can build an AI agent in five minutes, doesn't mean you should use it for enterprise procurement."In this episode, Josh Earley joins the team for a deep dive into the often-overlooked but critical topic of AI governance. As employees start bringing their own AI tools to work, procurement faces a new wave of "shadow AI" risks—from unapproved contracts to broken workflows.Josh, Natasha, and Zach discuss how to build guardrails without stifling innovation and what the rise of autonomous agents means for the future of sourcing.You'll learn:✔️ The "Shadow AI" Threat: Why "citizen developers" building unapproved workflows create massive risk for procurement .✔️ The 150-Question RFP Problem: How suppliers will use AI to spam massive RFPs with unverified "AI slop" .✔️ Governance 101: Josh's advice to "start small" by aligning Legal and Technology to build a policy framework .✔️ Knowledge as a Commodity: A philosophical look at what happens when human expertise is uploaded into models .

What if you could automate the most painful parts of your procurement job right now? In this hands-on "jam session," Conrad is joined by David Johnson for a practical guide to using AI in procurement.David shares his incredible "origin story" of falling through a ceiling into a procurement career, and then dives into a live demo of how he uses Google's Notebook LM to revolutionize the RFP process.You’ll learn how to:✔️ Automate RFP Analysis: Watch David demonstrate how he uses Notebook LM to instantly synthesize multiple vendor RFP responses, generate audio summaries, and query data with natural language. ✔️ Streamline Scoring: Learn how to use AI to build automated scorecards based on your requirements document and vendor responses. ✔️ Build Your Own AI Assistant: David explains the difference between Notebook LM and Gemini Gems, showing how to create a personalized AI "Gem" trained on your specific documents and tone. ✔️ Predict Outcomes: A look at the future of AI in strategic sourcing, where agents will model negotiation scenarios and analyze supplier financial reports to find leverage. ✔️ Embrace the Tools: Why AI isn't going to take your job, but it will take the "parts of your job you don't want to do," like auditing POs and redlining contracts.If you're ready to move beyond the hype and start using AI to solve real problems today, this episode is for you.

As AI and automation change the procurement landscape, what skills will you actually need to stay relevant?Natasha, Conrad, and Zach break down how the profession is evolving from a narrow focus on savings to a strategic function centered on value, speed, and customer service. They provide a practical guide on the new critical skills required for CPOs, directors, and individual contributors to thrive in the age of AI.You’ll learn about the new skills for:✔️ The CPO (Chief Procurement Officer): The CPO's role is shifting to that of an "inspirer" and a "catalyst of a change". Natasha argues CPOs will spend as much as 70% of their time on "sales"—selling their vision to the organization. They must be "knowledgeable enough to ask the right questions" about new tech and possess the "intuition" to "zoom in on the things that matter".✔️ Directors & Mid-Level Leaders: This level needs an "absolute willingness and even enthusiasm around change". They must also be "bolder" in hiring to bring in diverse skill sets like data science and coding to build a more capable team.✔️ Individual Contributors & Category Managers: As AI automates technical knowledge, "soft skills" like EQ are being prioritized. The hosts suggest hiring people with backgrounds in English and philosophy , warning that if 80% of your job is done by ChatGPT, "you're not going to have that position for a very long time". The key is to use AI to "elevate your thinking," not replace it.Ultimately, the hosts conclude that as technology takes over tactical work, the "human side of things" and skills like "influence, impact, and empowering" are "more important than ever" at every level of the organization.

What happens to your job when an AI agent can do 80% of your administrative work for you? In this mini jam session, hosts Conrad Smith and Zachary Bachir have a raw and forward-looking conversation sparked by the release of OpenAI's new agentic browser, Atlas. They explore how this technology will fundamentally change not just how procurement tasks are done, but what procurement professionals will focus on in the future.The hosts predict a massive shift in the skills required to succeed, moving away from operational expertise and toward strategic relationship management.You’ll hear candid views on:The Trust Problem: Why would you trust an AI agent to book a flight? The hosts discuss how user adoption will depend on the level of risk and the reversibility of the agent's actions, comparing it to the public's current anxiety about self-driving cars like Waymo.Building a "Safety Net" for AI: Conrad draws a parallel to the early days of e-commerce, when credit card companies offered fraud protection as a "safety net" to build consumer trust. He suggests a similar "insurance" model might be needed for AI agents.The End of Admin Work: The hosts agree that AI agents are perfect for automating the low-risk administrative tasks that currently consume "80, maybe even 90% of all procurement energy today".The "Admin Super User" is at Risk: Conrad makes a bold prediction: if you've built your career on being a "kick-ass administrative operations guy," you may be the most at risk as agents take over that work.The Future Role of Procurement: With administrative work gone, what do you do with the "three or four hours a day you get back?". The hosts argue the focus will shift entirely to strategic relationship management with stakeholders and suppliers."Counterfeit" Empathy: A fascinating look at how AI developers are building a "counterfeit" empathy layer into their tools to improve the user experience, and why it works.Learn more about Atlas at: chatgpt.com/atlas

Veteran CPO Ash Hall joins us to give his practical advice for career progression and leadership in procurement. Ash gives us his playbook on how to navigate career changes, make an impact in a new role, and evolve as a leader. Learn how he used a detailed and actionable framework for his first 90-day plan to transform multiple procurement organizations.In This Episode, You Will Learn:The 90-Day Playbook: A detailed framework for assessing any new procurement function, broken down into three core pillars: People, Process, and Systems.People: How to objectively assess team competencies using a formal, 13-competency test and design an optimal organizational structure aligned with corporate strategy.Process: A guide to identifying process gaps and creating a roadmap for standardization and efficiency, especially when there are "20 different ways across the company" to do the same thing.Systems: How to prioritize the technology stack, focusing on the foundational needs for data analytics and transactional support.Leadership in Action: Learn unique motivational tools like the 'Mission Coin' and the 'Pit Crew' analogy to align your team and demonstrate value to the business.The Future of Skills: A CPO's perspective on how AI will impact procurement roles, automating administrative work to free up professionals for more strategic thinking.

Is the traditional RFP a "disgusting," "sloppy," and "painful" process that needs to be retired? In this passionate episode, the Proc & Roll team declares war on the traditional Request for Proposal. Join Natasha, Conrad, and Zach as they break down why the process is broken and empower procurement leaders to "take back control".In this episode, we cover:"Change the Freaking Policy": Why you shouldn't be a victim of your own rules and have the power to change them.The "Game Master" Mindset: How to design a sourcing process that actually fits your needs instead of defaulting to a one-size-fits-all RFP.The "19-Supplier" Problem: The classic sign that your team hasn't done its homework before going to market.Practical Alternatives: Moving beyond the traditional RFP to smarter tools like creative reverse auctions and Proof of Concepts (POCs).The "Best RFP Responder" Fallacy: The danger of picking the supplier who is best at filling out paperwork, not the one who is the best partner.

In a tough negotiation, where do you draw the line between a strategic bluff and an unethical lie?In this episode, Natasha, Conrad, and Zach continue their in-depth exploration of procurement ethics, focusing on the practical, in-the-moment dilemmas of negotiation. The hosts share candidly about their own personal values, the pressures they've faced, and the frameworks they use to make tough calls.You’ll hear candid views on:✔️ Bluffing vs. Lying: The hosts debate the fine line between the two, with Natasha warning that you must be prepared to have your bluff called.✔️ The "Slippery Slope": Conrad's theory that major ethical breaches don't start overnight but begin with small, questionable actions, like with travel expenses, that become normalized over time.✔️ The "Third Party Test": A practical framework for judging your actions: if a neutral third party were watching you, what would they think your intentions are?✔️ Personal Values (The Mirror Test): The ultimate conclusion that your long-term reputation and ability to feel good about your actions are more important than any single deal.✔️ Responding to Unethical Behavior: What to do when a supplier "plays dirty" or, even more difficult, when you observe unethical behavior from a senior leader in your own company.

The conversation on procurement ethics and integrity continues, and this time, the hosts have brought in a special guest: a real "proc star," Ash Hall, former head of procurement at Lincoln Electric and Mercury Systems. Join Natasha Gurevich, Conrad Smith, and their guest Ash Hall as they dive deep into the practical, "in the trenches" dilemmas of the RFP process. They share candid stories and expert advice on how to build a sourcing process founded on fairness, transparency, and respect.In this episode, we cover:The "Slippery Slope": The hosts discuss how small, seemingly minor unethical habits can become normalized and grow into bigger problems over time. The Unethical RFP: A deep dive into why running a bid when you have no intention of moving off the legacy supplier is disrespectful and can ruin your company's reputation to the point where suppliers refuse to bid. "Respect" as a Core Principle: The idea that being respectful of a supplier's time and effort by running a lean and effective process is a fundamental part of integrity. Bidding "Pet Peeves": A candid discussion on the unwritten rules of auction and RFP etiquette, including the unethical practice of renegotiating after an auction is over. Listen to Ash's Band, The SlamheadsIn Loving Memory of David Karl Johnson (1966-2018)

Is your procurement process truly ethical, or are there hidden gray areas you haven't considered? In this episode, the Proc & Roll team tackles the critical and complex topic of ethics and integrity. Join Natasha Gurevich, Conrad Smith, and Zachary Bachir as they move beyond clear-cut issues like bribery to explore the subtle, everyday dilemmas that professionals face in negotiations, RFPs, and stakeholder management. This is a must-listen for anyone looking to build a stronger personal foundation of integrity in their work.In this episode, we cover:The "continuum of influence": Where to draw the line between a golf outing and a bribe.Internal pressure: How to handle it when a senior leader asks you to "put your finger on the scale" for a favored supplier.The "benchmark bid" dilemma: Why asking suppliers for a quote when you have no real intention of awarding them the business is the "opposite from ethical".Negotiation ethics: Are "white lies" and bluffing acceptable, or can you get a good deal with 100% transparency? The "fourth jet" problem: The ethical questions that arise when one department is pinching pennies while another spends lavishly on things like a private jet.

Procurement reports millions in savings, but does the CFO actually believe the numbers? In this follow-up to our savings discussion, the Proc & Roll team tackles the biggest challenge in procurement: credibility.Join Natasha Gurevich, Conrad Smith, and Zachary Bachir as they share candid stories and practical strategies for building unshakeable trust with your finance partners. They break down why even the biggest savings numbers fall flat without the right validation and communication, and how to translate procurement "value" into the tangible currency your CFO wants to see.In this episode, we cover:The "wheelbarrow of money" analogy: What the CFO really wants to see from your savings reports.Why the lack of a unified code for defining savings creates confusion and mistrust between CPOs and CFOs.The specific role of Finance as a "validator"—not an approver—to make your numbers "bulletproof".The importance of speaking two languages: talking hard currency with Finance and value with business stakeholders.The challenge of cost avoidance, why it's often treated as a "stepchild" by CFOs, and how to explain its importance for protecting future margins.If you’ve ever struggled to get your savings report taken seriously, this episode provides a clear playbook.

It's the proverbial 2 a.m. call from the CFO: "The quarter is bad, I need your team to deliver savings". Do you become the "cost police" and start squeezing suppliers, or do you step up as a strategic partner? In this episode, Natasha Gurevich, Conrad Smith, and Zach Bachir tackle the "S-word" of procurement. They share a practical playbook for generating real value under pressure, moving beyond simple cost-cutting to strategic leadership. This conversation is for any procurement professional who wants to be prepared before that inevitable call comes.In this episode, we cover:The crucial first step: Understanding the real driver behind a savings request and how much license you have to push for cuts.The proactive building blocks every team needs: clean spend data, accessible contracts, and strong stakeholder relationships.Why your relationship with Finance must be "iron" solid and how it makes your savings numbers "bulletproof".The full spectrum of savings levers, from a simple "just ask" to transformational operating model changes.The "Desktop Drill": A powerful exercise to run with your team to test your readiness before a crisis hits.If you’ve ever faced a sudden demand for cost reduction or want to elevate your team from a tactical function to a strategic powerhouse, this conversation is for you.

ESG is a top priority for many companies, but are we approaching it the right way?In this episode, Zachary, Natasha, and Conrad explore the realities of procurement's role in driving Environmental, Social, and Governance initiatives. They move beyond theory to discuss how to make ESG a practical, value-driving part of your strategy, not just another corporate checkbox.Drawing on decades of experience at companies like Nike, Salesforce, and Intel, the hosts share hard lessons and practical strategies for making ESG a powerful engine for innovation and positive change, all while strengthening the business.You’ll hear candid views on:✔️ Why ESG should be viewed as a strategic opportunity, not just another 'deliverable'.✔️ The difference between chasing metrics (the letter of the law) and making a real impact (the spirit of the law).✔️ The surprising economic multiplier effect of spending with diverse suppliers.✔️ How to navigate conflicting priorities like supplier consolidation vs. supplier diversity.✔️ A creative negotiating tactic that trades price cuts for sustainability investments.✔️ Why you don't need a big budget to get started and can achieve up to 80% of your goals without new tech.✔️ How to use scorecards and QBRs to drive meaningful change with your suppliers.If you've ever felt that ESG is just a 'flavor of the month' or wondered how to make a real difference from your role in procurement, this conversation is for you.

AI is poised to change everything, but will it fix the strained relationship between Legal and Procurement, or make it worse? In this special episode, Natasha and Conrad are joined by two legal powerhouses, Alissa Harvey Dawson and Ana Erickson, to explore the critical intersection of technology, law, and procurement. They discuss how to move beyond friction, leverage AI responsibly, and build a truly aligned partnership that drives business forward.With decades of combined experience from companies like HubSpot, Gusto, IBM, and McKesson , our guests provide an unparalleled view from both inside the legal department and from the perspective of a procurement-pro-turned-lawyer.Topics in this episode include:Why legal is often the slowest function to adopt new technology—and how to overcome the resistance.Practical ways to use AI for contract summarization, clause comparison, and initial drafting today.The secret to getting Legal and Procurement on the same page by aligning on business strategy and risk tolerance.The human element: What AI can't replace in understanding deal dynamics and complex relationships.Building proactive supplier resiliency in an era of tariffs and global disruption.The biggest risks of AI, like hallucinations and bias, and how to manage them responsibly.If you’re a professional caught between legal hurdles and procurement deadlines, or wondering how to safely harness the power of AI, this conversation provides an expert playbook for the future of your field.

Contracts are a fundamental part of procurement, but are we making them more complicated than they need to be? In this episode, Zachary, Natasha, and Conrad dive deep into the realities of contracting in procurement. They discuss when a contract is truly necessary, how to balance speed with risk, and why procurement and legal teams often find themselves at odds.Drawing on their combined decades of experience at companies like Nike, Adobe, and KPMG, the hosts share personal stories, lessons learned, and practical strategies to help procurement professionals streamline their contract processes.Topics in this episode include:Why most contracts are never referenced again after signingThe hidden costs of over-engineering contractsWhen legal teams should step in, and when they shouldn’tReducing friction between procurement and legalUsing AI and automation to handle routine contract workBuilding smarter intake and approval processes that actually workIf you’ve ever found yourself bogged down by contract redlines, approval delays, or legal bottlenecks, this conversation offers actionable advice on making contracting faster, smarter, and more business-friendly.

🎸 Automate Like a Rock Star: AI Agents in Procurement 🎸In this episode of Proc-N-Roll, Conrad and Zach explore how procurement professionals can harness the power of AI agents and workflow automation to revolutionize contract management and beyond.Zach walks through a practical demo of building an AI-driven contract analysis tool using Zapier, OpenAI’s GPT-4, and Google Sheets, showing how anyone can get started in just 5-10 hours — no coding experience required!Tune in to learn:✅ What agentic AI really means for procurement✅ How to build smart workflows with low-code tools✅ Real-world use cases for automating contract review✅ Tips to future-proof your procurement team with AI skillsThis episode is a must-listen for procurement pros looking to stay ahead of the curve and make AI a core part of their practice.🎧 Hit play and let’s Proc-N-Roll!#Procurement #AI #Automation #Workflows #Zapier #OpenAI #ContractManagement #ProcNRoll

🎉 New Podcast Alert! | Jam Session Hosted by Conrad, Natasha, and Zach, Jam Session brings guests from procurement leaders to changemakers to talk candidly about the challenges they face, their strategies, and how they turn complexity into opportunity.When tariffs rise and trade tensions grow, how can procurement stay ahead of the curve? In this episode of Jam Session, Natasha, Conrad, and Zach sit down with Mark Raffan, founder of Negotiation Ninja, to talk about turning global uncertainty into strategic advantage.In this episode, they cover:Thriving through tariffs and trade disruptionWhy “win-win” is a myth in real negotiationHow to strengthen supplier relationships under pressureTactical tips: true-ups, flexible contracts, and pricing strategiesUsing AI wisely in negotiation prepWhy rejection therapy might be your new superpower#Procurement #Negotiation #SupplyChain #Leadership #RiskManagement

How should procurement respond when the ground shifts beneath our feet? In this episode, Zach, Natasha, and Conrad break down how procurement teams can stay resilient in the face of trade disruptions, supply chain shocks, and global uncertainty.They cover proactive strategies for visibility, diversification, supplier collaboration, and why procurement must think beyond cost to lead through volatility.🎧 Tune in for real-world insights and practical steps you can take — whether you're reacting to today’s disruptions or preparing for tomorrow’s.#Procurement #SupplyChain #Resilience #RiskManagement #ProcAndRoll

In this episode of Proc & Roll, Zach Bachir, Natasha Gurevich, and Conrad Smith unpack the real reason procurement policies are often ignored — and what it takes to make them actually work.They explore:Why most policies are too long and disconnected from realityHow a 2-page policy worked at a $52B companyThe importance of embedding policy into workflows and toolsWhen rules matter — and when trust matters moreThe cultural factors that drive (or kill) compliancePlus, Conrad recommends No Rules Rules by Netflix’s Reed Hastings — a must-read on trust and accountability.A must-listen for procurement leaders, compliance pros, and anyone shaping buying behavior in large organizations.#Procurement #Compliance #Leadership #DigitalProcurement #BusinessStrategy #ProcAndRoll

In this episode of Proc & Roll, we’re joined by legendary procurement disruptor Elouise Epstein from Kearney to talk about the future of procurement — and what it really takes to lead in an AI-powered world.From spider charts to SaaS collapse to agent-based orchestration, Elouise breaks down what’s coming next and why most procurement teams aren’t ready for it. Plus, we dive into leadership gaps, soft skills, supplier risk, and the role of curiosity in surviving what’s ahead.🎧 You’ll hear: • Why GenAI won’t replace procurement — but will replace how we work • How modern procurement teams can manage 20+ AI agents each • Why most tech stacks fail (and what to do instead) • The surprising truth about supplier risk and vendor overload • What it means to become a business person who “does procurement” — not the other way around🔥 “If procurement doesn’t evolve — it will be left behind. But if it does, it might just lead the way.” – Elouise Epstein🛠️ Whether you’re a CPO, a practitioner, or a rising star in procurement — this is the wake-up call you didn’t know you needed.

Procurement orchestration tools promise to simplify intake, speed up processes, and unify tech stacks. But is it really the solution teams need right now?In Part 2 of our orchestration deep dive, Natasha and Conrad go beyond the hype to ask the hard questions:Is orchestration worth the investment? Where does it fit in the tech stack? And most importantly—what problem are you really trying to solve?💡 In this episode: • Orchestration vs. intake—what’s the difference, and why it matters • A practical framework for evaluating orchestration tools • Why simplifying your process might be more important than buying new techWhether you’re considering orchestration or just trying to make procurement work better for your stakeholders, this episode breaks it down in plain language with real-world advice.📌 Stick around for a sneak peek at our next guest: Dr. Eloise Epstein joins us to talk future-of-procurement and the end of the spider diagram.

“Orchestration” is showing up everywhere — conference panels, cold pitches, and LinkedIn posts. But what does it actually mean? And more importantly, should your procurement team care?In Part 1 of this two-part episode, Natasha and Conrad unpack the rise of procurement orchestration and why it’s suddenly in the spotlight.💡 In this episode: • What orchestration actually is (beyond the buzzword) • How it compares to intake, workflow, and automation • Why some see it as a game-changer — and others remain skepticalWe’ll share practical frameworks, examples, and a few strong opinions about what orchestration can (and can’t) do for procurement teams.📌 Subscribe to catch Part 2 — where we dive into tech stacks, user experience, and whether orchestration is a smart investment or a wait-and-see trend.

Feeling overwhelmed by the exploding procurement technology landscape? Join Natasha, Conrad, and Zach as they break down the evolution of procurement tech from paper-based systems to today's AI-powered solutions. Get practical advice on assessing your tech stack, learn why "less is more" with customization, and discover how to choose the right tools for your organization. From master data management to the "suite vs. best-of-breed" debate, our procurement experts share real-world insights on navigating the complex world of procurement technology.

Tired of playing the same old savings tune? Join the Proc & Roll crew as they turn up the volume on procurement's evolution from pure cost-cutting to driving real business value. Procurement veterans Zach, Natasha, and Conrad share war stories about breaking free from the "S-word" stigma and reveal how modern teams are becoming strategic rockstars. Discover how procurement is writing its next platinum hit, from talent transformation to supplier partnerships. Get ready to crank it up and learn why the future of procurement isn't just about counting pennies – it's about composing business success. 🎸

🎸 In this head-banging episode, your favorite procurement rockstars break down why nailing the basics is your ticket to procurement stardom. Join Zach, Natasha, and Conrad as they riff on stakeholder mapping, data visibility, and why chasing the latest tech won't save you if your fundamentals aren't solid. Get ready to rock the essentials to make your procurement function a chart-topper! 🤘Featuring: The ultimate stakeholder mapping power ballad A killer three-dimensional segmentation solo Your backstage pass to procurement maturityTime to stop chasing silver bullets and start believing in the basics that'll make your procurement truly rock! 🎸

🎸 Want to turn skeptical stakeholders into your biggest fans? Join procurement powerhouse Natasha, innovator Conrad, and expert Zach as they share real stories and strategies for breaking down business barriers and building trust. Learn how to move from being procurement's opening act to the company's headliner. Whether you're struggling with resistant departments or aiming for C-suite influence, this episode hits all the right notes.70+ years of procurement wisdom packed into one high-energy session. Rock on! 🤘

Ready to level up your feedback game? In this episode of Proc-N-Roll, we're getting real about giving and receiving feedback in procurement. Our host Zach brings together procurement powerhouses Natasha Gurevich (ex-CPO at IBM, McKesson, and Salesforce) and Conrad Smith (former Intel CPO turned startup CEO) to discuss what makes feedback tick. There is no corporate fluff here—just honest talk about why feedback matters and how to do it right. Ever wondered how to tell your boss they missed the mark? Or how to help your team actually want feedback? Our guests spill the tea on everything from handling awkward feedback moments to building a culture where people aren't afraid to speak up. Plus, Natasha drops her secret "rock at/unlock" method that had her leadership team begging for more feedback (seriously!). Whether you're crushing it in procurement or just getting started, this conversation is packed with real-world wisdom you can use today. Tune in to learn how being radically open to feedback could be your secret weapon for success. Time to make procurement rock & roll! 🎸